Fluid flow with heat transfer downstream of a 3-D backward-facing step

A Petrov-Galerkin finite element technique is used to calculate convective heat transfer over a 3-D backward facing step with dimensions 30H x 12H x H. The lower surface downstream of the step is supplied with a constant heat flux (q = 1 W/m(2)); the remaining walls are assumed to be insulated. Results show that upper and lower recirculation zones in the 3-D solutions are very different to conditions obtained in the 2-D case using a 3-D channel width of 12H.